Green and blue stripe the stadium like an endless sea. The smell of booze, anticipation, and stadium food begin to overtake the nostrils. There are 65,000 plus fans screaming, creating a sound comparable to a rock concert.
Ladies and gentlemen, you have just entered CenturyLink Field.
The NFL is the national pastime of the U.S.A. It has by and large become the most popular sport in America. And while it’s great to watch football on TV, there is nothing like seeing a game live in person.
The Link and the Seattle Seahawks are a point of pride for Seattleites. Ever since the SuperSonics were taken away, the Hawks have become Seattle’s team.
This is evidenced just by walking through the streets of the Emerald City. No matter what day of the week, you will always find a person wearing some sort of Seahawks apparel, or some drunk guy at a bar rambling on about the Hawks.
12s have become a mainstream part of Seattle’s culture. This collective group is at its best when the Hawks play a home game.
The Seahawks players and fans alike relish the eight home games played at the Link each season. From the moment you enter the stadium, you can feel the energy and intensity rise.
As soon as you get to your seat and observe the surroundings, you’ll quickly realize you are with your family for the day. As long as you’re wearing blue or green, you will be accepted.
Once the game starts, you are expected to yell when the opposing team has the ball. It is not an enforced rule but if you don’t scream your head off and lose your voice by the end of the game then you have missed out on a part of the experience. Plus, who doesn’t like some good tribal yelling from time to time.
The 12s and the Hawks defense have caused the second most false start penalties in the NFL since The Link (Formerly known as Qwest Field) opened in 2002. Prior to contrary belief, the Minnesota Vikings have actually caused more false starts at home in that same time frame. Many Seattleites will not be happy to hear that statistic.
In a society where so many people stare at their cell phones for half the day, a football game brings a wide variety of people together.
You have grown men high-fiving with senior ladies, young couples talking and interacting with one another, drunkards screaming at opposing fans, and everything else in-between. Simply put, there is nothing else like it in America.
In a generation of American history that is marked by separation, a football game is a moment in time where we can all forget about our differences and join in togetherness of the human spirit.
There are many cities and stadiums throughout the NFL that share Seattle’s same passion for football. Furthermore, there are many college fans who display passion of a completely higher intensity. Have you ever seen a SEC game on TV? That looks like one hell of a time.
Football is a warrior’s sport where only the tough survive.
When you’re at a game, you can see the speed and power that the players exhibit on the field. Thus, you can hear the sound when a player lays down a huge hit. You can also see the beauty of a 60-yard pass and how the ball magically drops into a receiver’s hands.
TV does not show how wonderful the game of football truly is. If you have an opportunity to watch a game live, jump on it immediately. It could be a high school, college, or NFL game, nevertheless it is an experience that you’ll want to be apart of.
Whether you love the sport itself, you just want to be apart of the atmosphere, or even just want to go eat some stadium food, just go. Shoot, even if the only reason you attend a football game is for a cool Instagram picture, make it happen.
To all the 12s out there, keep cheering wildly and making the city of Seattle proud.
